Cooling shroud plate for hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism

ABSTRACT

A cooling shroud plate for use in a hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism, consisting of an annular member having formed thereon a plurality of concave and convex portions which circumferentially alternate, a plurality of rib portions formed between the concave and convex portions and flange means formed on the annular member at the outer peripheral wall thereof. The concave portions serve as mounting elements for mounting the cooling shroud plate on the outer surface of the hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism, while the convex portions serve to provide cooling air flow passages through which the cooling air circulates to cool the outer surface of the torque transmitting mechanism.

[22] Filed:

United States Patent 1 Iwanaga Oct. 30, 1973 COOLING SIIROUD PLATE FOR HYDRAULIC TORQUE TRANSMITTING MECHANISM [75] Inventor: Kazuyoshi lwanaga, Yokosuka,

Japan [73] Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited,

Yokohama City, Japan Dec. 2, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 204,162

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 9, 1971 Japan 46/60185 [52] US. Cl. 60/337, 60/DIG. 5 [51] Int. Cl. Fl6h 41/30 [58] Field of Search 60/54, DIG. 5, 337

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1944 Smirl 60/54 I Holmes et al 60/54 Gimmler 60/54 Primary Examiner-Edgar W. Geoghegan Attorney-Robert E. Burns ct al.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A cooling shroud plate for use in a hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism, consisting of an annular member having formed thereon a plurality of concave and convex portions which circumferentially alternate, a plurality of rib portions formed between the concave and convex portions and flange means formed on the annular member at the outer peripheral wall thereof. The concave portions serve as mounting elements for mounting the cooling shroud plate on the outer surface of the hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism, while the convex portions serve to provide cooling air flow passages through which the cooling air circulates to cool the outer surface of the torque transmitting a mechanism.

3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEB GET 3 0 I975 SHEET 2 BF 2 COOLING SIIROUD PLATE FOR HYDRAULIC TORQUE TRANSMITTING MECHANISM This invention relates generally to a cooling device for a hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism and, more particularly, to a cooling shroud plate adapted to be mounted on the outer surface of the hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism.

It is well known in the art that a hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism such as a hydraulic torque converter is commonly provided with cooling fins or a shroud plate at the outer surface thereof. The cooling fins or shroud plate, which are usually formed from a metal sheet, are arranged to be rotatable with the moving part of the hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism for circulating the air thereon to cool the same.

The cooling fins thus arranged have disadvantages in that it is extremely difficult to provide a sufficient air flow due to their inherent construction with a resultant decrease in cooling effect. Furthermore, since these cooling fins are divided from each other, it is also difficult to provide ease of assembling especially when mounting on the outer surface of the torque transmitting mechanism. Another problem encountered is that the cooling fins produce undesirable noises during optransmitting mechanism. For this reason, an additional reinforcing member will be required thereby complicating the construction of the cooling shroud plate.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an improved cooling shroud plate for use in a hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cooling shroud plate which has a light weight yet possesses great strength and rigidity without use of a reinforcing member.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a cooling shroud plate which provides ease of assembling.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cooling shroud plate which is highly effective in cooling the component parts of the hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism.

In order to achieve these objects, the present invention contemplates providing a cooling shroud plate for use in a hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism. The shroud plate consists of an annular member having formed thereon a plurality of circumferentially alternating concave and convex portions. The concave portions serve as mounting elements for mounting the cooling shroud plate on the hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism, while the convex portions serve to provide cooling air flow passages. The concave and convex portions are connected with each other by means of a plurality of rib portions which extend radially of the annular member. A flange means is provided on the annular member at the periphery thereof and connected to the peripheral walls of the concave and convex portions for improving directional characteristics of the cooling air flow.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation view of a hydraulic torque converter employing a cooling shroud plate embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view showing a preferred embodiment of the cooling shroud plate according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a section view taken on section line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section view taken on line IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a section view taken on section line V of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an elevation view showing another preferred embodiment of the cooling shroud plate according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a section view taken on section line VII of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a section view taken on section line VIII of FIG. 6.

The cooling shroud plate of the present invention will be herein shown and described as applied to a hydralic torque converter, by way of example only. It should, however, be understood that the cooling shroud plate of the present invention is also applicable to many other types of hydraulic torque transmitting mechanisms.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is schematically shown a conventional hydraulic torque converter 10 employing a cooling shroud plate 11 embodying the present invention. The hydraulic torque converter 10 is usually mounted in a housing 12. The hydraulic torque converter 10 consists of, as customary, a bladed impeller or pump 10a, a bladed rotor or turbine 10b and a bladed reaction element or stator 100. The pump 10a is connected through a driving plate 13 to an input shaft 14 which may be a crank shaft of an internal combustion engine. The turbine 10b, which is driven by the pump 10a, is splined to an output shaft 15. The stator is rotatably mounted on a hollow shaft 16, and a one-way brake 17 is disposed between the stator 10c and the hollow shaft 16.

The hydraulic torque converter 10 operates in a manner well known for driving the turbine 10b at an increased torque than the torque impressed on the pump 10a of the converter. The working oil in the pump 10a passes through the turbine 10b to the stator 10c and thus functions to transfer the torque impressed on the pump 10a to the turbine 10b, which consequently drives the output shaft Eat the increased torque. It will be appreciated, in this condition, that the working oil, which is moving around with the pump 10a, is thrown with a forward motion, or velocity, into the turbine 10b. As the working oil passes into the turbine 10b, considerable heat is generated. due to shock losses occurring at the entrance to the blades of the turbine. This is also true for the pump and the stator.

To dissipate the heat generated a part of the working oil is delivered to the cooling system (not shown) and cooled thereby, whereas heat on the remaining part of the working oil circulating in the hydraulic torque converter 10 is transferred through an outer surface 18 of the pump a to the atmosphere. The cooling shroud plate 11 of the present invention is mounted on the outer surface 18 of the pump 10a to assist in transferring heat therefrom to cooling air therearound. To this end, the housing 12 is provided with air inlet and outlet passages 12a and 12b. The cooling air passed from the air inlet passage 12a is passed in a direction shown by an arrow in FIG. 1 to a passage (not identified) defined between the outer surface 18 of the pump 10a and the cooling shroud plate 11 as and thus the cooling effect results.

A preferred example of the cooling shroud plate according to the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5. As shown, the cooling shroud plate 11 consists of an annular member 19 which is made from a metal sheet formed in a shape to fit the outer surface 18 of the pump 10a of the hydraulic torque converter. The annular member 19 is provided with a plurality of concave and convex portions 20 and 21, which are disposed alternatively circumferentially. The concave and convex portions are connected with each other by means of rib portions 22 which extend radially of the annular member 19. Each of the concave portions 20 is shown to be smaller in width than the convex portion 21, but may be suitably sized in accordance with requirements. The concave portions 20 serve as mounting elements to be welded to the outer surface 18 of the pump 10a, while the convex portions 21 serve to provide cooling air flow passages on the outer surface 18 of the pump 10a. As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, the annular member 19 has formed thereon a flange 23 which provides not only strength to the cooling shroud plate 11 but also the directional characteristic of the cooling air flow The cooling shroud plate 11 thus constructed is mounted on the hydraulic torque converter 10 by welding the concave portions 20 to the outer surface 18 of the pump 10a in a manner as previously discussed. As the pump 10a starts to rotate, then the cooling shroud plate 11 is caused to rotate therewith. When the speed of rotation of the pump 10a and accordingly the rotational speed of the cooling shroud plate 11 increases, the cooling air is introduced from the air inlet passage 12a to the interior of the housing 12 by the centrifugal force causedby rotation of the pump 10a. The cooling air thus introduced into the interior of the housing 12 is then passed through the cooling air flow passages defined by the convex portions 21 of the cooling shroud plate 11 to the air outlet passage 12b, from which it is passed into the atmosphere. Under this circumstance, theouter surface 18 of the pump 10a and accordingly the working oil circulating in the hydraulic torque converter 10 is effectively cooled.

It is to be noted that, although the flange 23 is shown as provided continuously on the whole outer end portion of the annular member 19 in FIGS. 2 to 5, the flange 23 may be formed discontinuously as seen from FIGS. 6 to 8, if desired.

If will now be appreciated that the cooling shroud plate implementing the present invention provides a desirable cooling effect to increase the useful life of the hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism.

It will also be understood that the cooling shroud plate of the present invention has a great strength and rigidity thereby avoiding provision of additional reinforcing members.

It will further be noted that the cooling shroud plate according to the present invention will provide ease of assembling since the component parts are integrally connected with each other.

What is claimed is:

1. A cooling shroud plate for use in a hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism comprising, an annular member, a plurality of disposed alternately circumferentially on said annular member, said concave portions serving as mounting elements for mounting said cooling shroud plate on an outer surface of said hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism, said convex portions serving to provide cooling air flow passages through which a cooling air circulates to cool the outer surface of said torque transmitting mechanism, a plurality of radially extending rib portions disposed between said concave and convex portions and connected therewith, and flange means on said annular member at the outer periphery thereof.

2. A cooling shroud plate adapted to be mounted on a moving part of a hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism having therein a working oil comprising, an annular member made from sheet metal and having a shape to fit an outer surface of said moving part of said hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism, a plurality of circumferential concave and convex portions alternately on said annular member, said concave portions serving as mounting elements for mounting said cooling shroud plate on said moving part of said torque transmitting mechanism, said convex portions serving to provide cooling air flow passages on the outer surface of said moving part of said torque transmitting mechanism for circulating a cooling air flow thereby cooling the working oil in said hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism, a plurality of radially extending rib portions disposed between said concave and convex portions and connected therewith, and flange means on said annular member at the outer periphery thereof.

3. A cooling shroud plate adapted to be mounted on an outer surface of a moving part of a hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism having therein a working oil which hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism is disposed in a housing having air inlet and outlet passages, said cooling shroud plate comprising an annular member made from sheet metal, a plurality of circumferentially, alternately disposed concave and convex portions on said annular member, said concave portions serving as mounting elements and having shapes to fit the outer surface of said moving part of said hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism, said convex portions serving to provide cooling air flow passages on the outer surface of said moving part of said hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism, said cooling air flow passages permitting a cooling air admitted from said air inlet passage formed on said housing to pass therethrough and subsequently to deliver the cooling air to said air outlet passage formed on said housing for thereby cooling the working oil in said hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism, a plurality of radially extending rib portions disposed between said concave and convex portions and connected therewith, and flange means on said annular member at the outer periphery thereof. 

1. A cooling shroud plate for use in a hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism comprising, an annular member, a plurality of disposed alternately circumferentially on said annular member, said concave portions serving as mounting elements for mounting said cooling shroud plate on an outer surface of said hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism, said convex portions serving to provide cooling air flow passages through which a cooling air circulates to cool the outer surfAce of said torque transmitting mechanism, a plurality of radially extending rib portions disposed between said concave and convex portions and connected therewith, and flange means on said annular member at the outer periphery thereof.
 2. A cooling shroud plate adapted to be mounted on a moving part of a hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism having therein a working oil comprising, an annular member made from sheet metal and having a shape to fit an outer surface of said moving part of said hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism, a plurality of circumferential concave and convex portions alternately on said annular member, said concave portions serving as mounting elements for mounting said cooling shroud plate on said moving part of said torque transmitting mechanism, said convex portions serving to provide cooling air flow passages on the outer surface of said moving part of said torque transmitting mechanism for circulating a cooling air flow thereby cooling the working oil in said hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism, a plurality of radially extending rib portions disposed between said concave and convex portions and connected therewith, and flange means on said annular member at the outer periphery thereof.
 3. A cooling shroud plate adapted to be mounted on an outer surface of a moving part of a hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism having therein a working oil which hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism is disposed in a housing having air inlet and outlet passages, said cooling shroud plate comprising an annular member made from sheet metal, a plurality of circumferentially, alternately disposed concave and convex portions on said annular member, said concave portions serving as mounting elements and having shapes to fit the outer surface of said moving part of said hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism, said convex portions serving to provide cooling air flow passages on the outer surface of said moving part of said hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism, said cooling air flow passages permitting a cooling air admitted from said air inlet passage formed on said housing to pass therethrough and subsequently to deliver the cooling air to said air outlet passage formed on said housing for thereby cooling the working oil in said hydraulic torque transmitting mechanism, a plurality of radially extending rib portions disposed between said concave and convex portions and connected therewith, and flange means on said annular member at the outer periphery thereof. 